Full Breakdown
South Korean Box Office Update: "Once We Were Us" Leads Weekend Earnings
2/2/2026, 11:15:38 AM
Box Office Performance Overview
The South Korean box office was led by the local romance film “Once We Were Us,” which earned $1.2 million from 179,740 admissions over the weekend, according to data from KOBIS, the tracking service operated by the Korean Film Council. Directed by Kim Do-young and featuring Koo Kyo-hwan and Moon Ga-young, the film is a remake of the 2018 Chinese hit “Us and Them.” It tells the story of two former lovers who unexpectedly reunite on a flight a decade after their initial meeting. To date, “Once We Were Us” has grossed a cumulative total of $15.5 million from 2,322,852 admissions.
Competing Films
In second place, the musical drama “Choir of God” continued its strong performance in its fifth week, earning $974,062 from 148,319 admissions. The film, starring Park Si-hoo and Jeong Jin-woon, revolves around a North Korean security officer who orchestrates a deceptive choir to engage with an international NGO for securing foreign funds. Its total gross has reached $6.1 million.
The third position was held by “Avatar: Fire and Ash,” which brought in $581,386 over the weekend, contributing to a cumulative gross of $53.4 million since its release in December. The animated feature “Shinbi’s Haunted House: One More Summon” secured fourth place, adding $216,295 to reach a total of $1.8 million. This film is based on the popular “Shinbi Apartment” television franchise.
The highest-ranking new entry for the weekend was Sam Raimi’s survival horror film “Send Help,” which debuted in fifth place with $231,647 from 34,266 admissions, accumulating $355,618 since its release on January 28. Other notable films included “Zootopia 2,” which dropped to sixth place with a total of $56.4 million, and the new Hollywood release “The Housemaid,” which opened in seventh place with $184,585.
Market Trends
The overall market gross for the weekend was $4.9 million, a decrease from the previous week’s $6.3 million. This decline reflects a shifting landscape in audience preferences and competition among both local and international films.
Criticism & Opposition
While local films like “Once We Were Us” and “Choir of God” have performed well, there are concerns regarding the sustainability of such box office successes amid increasing competition from international releases. Critics argue that the reliance on remakes and adaptations may limit the diversity of storytelling in South Korean cinema.
Verbatim Quotes
This overview highlights the current state of the South Korean box office, emphasizing the success of local films while acknowledging the challenges posed by international competition.
